If it’s quaint small-town life you seek, but don’t want to stray too far from the hustle and bustle of the American city, give Milford, Michigan, a look. Located in the southwest corner of Oakland County, Milford, along with its larger neighbor, Milford Township, are about 40 miles from Detroit and about 30 miles from Ann Arbor. The charms of Milford are easily accessible via M-59 and I-96, and both freeways allow residents easy access to the amenities and events throughout the metro Detroit area.

Established in 1832, Milford became the central business district for the region thanks to its proximity to the Huron River. (The River allowed Milford to, in 1892, become one of the first communities in Michigan to have electric lights.) The city and township have grown slowly but strongly through the years, sporting a mix of longtime residents and those who want the peace and quiet the relative distance from city centers can provide. The housing stock runs the gamut from the 1940s to loads of recently-constructed homes, many of which are less than five years old and feature open floorplans, kitchens for entertaining, and in many cases, four bedrooms. The older homes tend to be clustered toward the downtown area.

Downtown Milford, on the National Register of Historic Places, is a classic American downtown, with two-story side-by-side brick buildings filled by restaurants and unique shops. There’s greenspace, with Central Park as the main attraction, and rivers, with Mill Pond dominating the west side of downtown. Annual events downtown include a farmer’s market in the warm months and movies in Central Park during the summer. There’s also a car show and holiday-themed festivals. The second full weekend in August brings the Art In The Village show, which features, alongside thousands of pieces of art on display and for sale, strolling entertainment, wonderful dining opportunities, great shopping, a Civil War reenactment, canoe racing on the Mill Pond, music, dancing, and a film festival.

Milford’s students are part of Huron Valley Schools. Huron Valley’s Lakeland High School has recently made U.S. News and World Report’s the Best High Schools In The United States list. It sports three high schools, and about 15 schools total, three of which are located in Milford proper.

One of the key attractions of Milford is its proximity to large parks. The Proud Lake State Recreation Area, shared with nearby Commerce Township, offers 20 miles of hiking trails, which can also be used for equestrian fun or cross-country skiing in the winter; campgrounds featuring boat launches; fishing; hunting; snowmobiling; mountain biking, and kayaking.  The Highland State Recreation Area, just north of Milford, is about 9 square miles and features 45 miles of trails, including an equestrian trail, and numerous campgrounds. Kensington Metropark, located on the south side of Milford, is one of Michigan’s most popular parks. In addition to the 1200-acre Kent Lake for boating and swimming, there’s a 18-hole golf course, 27-hole frisbee golf course, nature center, water slides, and miles and miles of biking and hiking trails.

With its beautiful downtown, small-town appeal, proximity to city centers, and recreation options a stone’s throw away, Milford is waiting for you to call it your home.​

To learn more about Milford, download our Milford Area Booklet.